Does Sweden’s COVID freedoms cost lives? | Europe | News and current affairs from across the continent DW
For some observers, Anders Tegnell is a beacon of reason whose distaste for lockdowns has made it possible for Swedes to continue skiing, shopping and eating out without a mask, while many in Europe face police compliance with detention rules.
For others, the state epidemiologist is a risk-taking repellent who is responsible for loss of life much higher than necessary, which leads Sweden to its current position topping European charts in COVID-19 infection rates. Even the Swedish king has expressed his dismay over the death.
What makes Tegnell tick?
Sweden’s state epidemiologist Anders Tegnell has led a COVID-19 strategy that has received international attention throughout the pandemic.
Tegnell: Sweden’s only “slightly different”
Tegnell seems puzzled by the constant design of Sweden, which takes a remarkably unique path – and by the countless assessments of whether it is the right one. “To say that Sweden acted very differently from other countries, that is not true,” Tegnell told DW outside the head office of the national health authority in Stockholm. “We did basically the same thing as many other countries. We did it in a slightly different way.”
“Slightly different” seems underestimated compared to the strict restrictions and the high penalties for infringing them, employed by other EU countries. In Sweden, apart from size restrictions at public gatherings and at 8 pm for restaurants and pubs, most measures are “recommendations” and not regulations, which he has sometimes accused the public of not following carefully enough.
No hiding skepticism about masks
One of the most striking differences when walking in Stockholm is the absence of masks. Tegnell says that he does not believe that they are extremely effective in limiting the transmission of coronavirus, especially compared to physical distancing, so wearing them has never been a mandate in Sweden. “You can see countries like France, Italy, even Germany with very strict rules on masks, and they still have a big increase,” he points out. Only since January have passengers in public transport been encouraged to disguise themselves, especially during rush hour. But there is no penalty for not doing so.
Despite the image of lifestyles that the virus has not changed, Tegnell claims “people have changed their behavior enormously, and they have done it voluntarily because they know it is the right thing to do.” He says that about 40% of Swedes now work from home. They also travel much less than before and avoid public transport whenever possible.
He suggests that what Sweden has tried to do, in contrast to other countries, is to find “what we need to close where we have the effects so that we do not have to shut down the whole society.” The Swedish government only has a temporary legal right to impose a suspension if it deems it necessary – something it has not done.
Neighbors are ” outliers ”
Tegnell rejects as simplified comparisons with the neighboring countries Finland and Norway, which chose stricter measures earlier in the crisis and now has among the lowest death rates in Europe. “There are huge differences between Sweden and Finland and Norway,” he said. Tegnell emphasizes the population concentration in larger cities, the higher proportion of people with a “less favorable” socio-economic background and the Swedes’ tendency to travel more.
Finland and Norway “are the outermost”, says Tegnell. “Sweden compares much more with Belgium, Austria, even Germany in many ways. And in the latest report on mortality, Sweden is among the five to ten countries with the least excess mortality in Europe”, referring to what is considered one of the most reliable methods for determining the number of deaths attributable to COVID-19. “Excessive mortality” is the number of deaths beyond what would be the statistical norm.
Can we talk?
Christian Christensen, a journalist and professor at Stockholm University who has followed the effects of the government’s method of communicating his policy, is careful not to question epidemiological assessments. But he has many other questions.
He says that Sweden should neither be considered a utopia nor a dystopia, and that it is fair to assess whether it could have done things better. “One thing Sweden has not done very well is to communicate the reasoning behind its policy to the population,” he said.
With the example of masking, Christensen referred to the fact that it was only three months ago that the recommendation was issued to use masks during rush hour. Compliance has not been high, and he says it may be because some information was conveyed along with it. “Was this the result of a change in science or was this just a change in policy?” he asks, adding “If you then say it will help and science has not really changed radically, I would say, why did you not do it before?”
Sweden’s vaccination campaign is somewhat behind other European countries
“Freedom” from rules that have not been enjoyed equally
Christensen notes that this information would be particularly important for the part of the population that is “essentially forced” to take public transport because they cannot afford a car. “You see a definite class difference there,” he said. “I think that is one of the things we will see in the next five to ten years when we look back at COVID”, he added: “to what extent this particular issue was not discussed enough” in neither Sweden nor the whole of Europe.
Tegnell says his agency has worked hard to get information on prevention and acknowledges “I am sure we can always do more because it is still the sections of the population that are hardest hit.” But he also emphasizes that most Swedes are satisfied with the handling of public measures.
‘Freedom forever
Gustav Lloyd Agerblad says that he is proud of the Swedish coronavirus strategy – and his tattoo tribute to Anders Tegnell
One of them is Gustav Lloyd Agerblad, a Stockholm-based drilling equipment salesman who grabbed headlines a year ago when he had Tegnell tattooed on his arm. “He went from nothing to a rock star,” Agerblad said with a laugh, noting that Tegnell’s popularity has waned somewhat as infections rise.
Agerblad says that he does not regret the move at all. “[Tegnell] represents this different path [of] deal with crisis in the world, “he explained,” where people could still have a lot of freedom. “
Agerblad says that he will explain for the rest of his life about the special Swedish reasoning that made him ink the epidemiologist on his epidermis.
When asked about the tribute, Tegnell, as a specialist in infectious diseases, said that he is not in favor of any tattoos.